Found as a little snit-bit in the CommonWealth article on the drop in ridership in 2013: Apparently funding is in place for this ...

The existing Chelesa station will be moved cardinal west, to the Mystic Mall site, just west of Everett Ave. The existing station will become a staggered berth busway station called "Downtown Chelsea".

Silver Line Gateway is a new branch of the MBTA Silver Line Waterfront Service. From Boston’s South Station, the new Silver Line Gateway will follow the same route and serve the same stations in the Seaport as the existing Silver Line Waterfront services. Then it will use the Williams Tunnel and airport service roads to connect with East Boston neighborhoods and the Blue Line at Airport Blue Line Station (bypassing the Logan Airport terminals, already served by the SL1 route). Following the Coughin Bypass Road, the buses will travel over the existing Chelsea Street Bridge into Chelsea.

MassDOT evaluated three potential routes to extend Silver Line service into Chelsea. After a detailed analysis and discussions with the communities, MassDOT is advancing the “Busway to Mystic Mall” route, which has the fastest travel time, highest ridership projections, and strongest public support. In Chelsea, Silver Line vehicles will travel in a new designated busway along a MassDOT owned former railroad corridor. The route is separate from local roadways and free of traffic congestion, yet it offers stations with direct access to neighborhoods and commercial centers, and it makes intermodal connections with commuter rail and local buses.

2.2.3 Commuter Rail Station Relocation Update One of the components of the Silver Line Gateway project is the relocation of the existing Chelsea Commuter Rail Station, which does not meet state or federal accessibility requirements. The station will be relocated within MBTA right-of-way on the west side of the proposed Mystic Mall BRT Station where the busway will end (see Figure 2.2-21). The relocated Commuter Rail Station will consist of 800 feet long, high-level inbound and outbound side platforms. Some sections of the platforms will be provided with canopies. The new station will comply with all accessibility requirements. Additionally, the new station will support ongoing economic development initiatives in the City of Chelsea in the Everett Avenue corridor.

Service Implications Relocation of the commuter rail station will not have any service implications, nor will the addition of buses at the commuter rail grade crossings. Traffic delay created by Silver Line buses crossing where the busway intersects existing streets is expected to be minimal. When buses arrive before or after a commuter train crossing, the total vehicle delay and queuing on streets intersecting the busway could be extended by approximately 10-15 seconds compared to existing conditions. Gate down times for trains currently average approximately 90 seconds at each of the at-grade crossings in Chelsea that are adjacent to the proposed busway and relocated commuter rail station. Commuter Rail and Silver Line schedules and signal equipment will be coordinated to reduce delay to vehicles at these grade crossings. The project is modernizing railroad grade crossing warning devices and signal systems to reduce railroad related traffic delays at the grade crossings of Arlington Street/Sixth Street, Spruce Street, Everett Avenue, Third Street, and Second Street

Connectivity The relocated Commuter Rail Station will be accessed from Everett Avenue and Third Street via new accessible sloped sidewalks provided on both sides of the commuter rail tracks. On the north side of the tracks a 10-foot wide accessible sloped sidewalk is proposed that will extend from Everett Avenue and Third Street to the relocated Commuter Rail Station inbound platform. A sidewalk with granite curb is proposed on the west side of Everett Avenue to give continuity to the proposed sidewalk along the rail line. On the southern side of the commuter rail tracks, an 8-foot wide cement concrete sidewalk is proposed around the Mystic Mall BRT Station for pedestrian access to the outbound platform. Pedestrian access to the outbound platform from Third Street is provided via 10-foot wide accessible sloped sidewalk. An accessible ramp will also be provided to the eastern side of the outbound platform of the relocated Commuter Rail Station. The existing pedestrian crossing at the intersection of the Everett Avenue and Market Basket driveway will be retained. Drop-off and pick up service from the relocated Commuter Rail Station will be achieved from the realigned driveway of Market Basket.

ParkingCustomer parking is not currently provided at the existing Chelsea Commuter Rail Station and none will be provided at the relocated station as part of this project. Normal City of Chelsea enforcement of on-street parking is expected. Coordination with the owners of adjacent business will continue throughout final design to develop an enforcement strategy to discourage commuter parking in the existing surface parking lots of retail, commercial and government institutions.

I'm very happy with most of the project. Chelsea gets near-rapid transit*, and the relocation of the CR station will speed boarding (with high level platforms) and maybe make the Everett Ave. crossing better if they can time the crossing properly. My one beef is that the busway will take several years to construct, as will the station.

I've been following this with some moderate interest and it's moving very quickly, but with very little press. This project is within the scope of the Urban Ring Community Advisory Committee, and they keep tabs on the project and make suggestions -- so this thing is definitely being made with a future Urban Ring in mind.

The only thing I don't understand in all of this: where will the crossing gates be? Are the buses within the gate zone? Do the buses thus trigger the gates to go down? How does this work?

It looks like the outbound platform (to mystic mall) roadway proper will be within the confines of the overall ROW, with an easement (or worse) needed for the sidewalk opposite the outbound platform. The inbound platform at Washington St and other sidewalks will also need an easement or ED as well.